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A Texas jury has convicted former House majority leader Tom DeLay, seen here in a 2005 file photo.

By Luke Frazza, AFP/Getty Images

A Texas jury has convicted former House majority leader Tom DeLay, once one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress, on money laundering and conspiracy charges.

DeLay, a former No. 2 House GOP leader, faces five to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 on the money laundering charge.

He appeared shocked, according to the Austin American-Statesman, when jurors reported their findings one by one. Sentencing is set for Dec. 20.

The lawmaker known as "The Hammer" was indicted in 2005 on charges that he illegally sent $190,000 in corporate money through the Republican National Committee to help elect Republicans to the Texas Legislature during the 2002 election cycle.

The legal case in Texas caused DeLay, majority leader from 2003 to 2005, to leave Congress in 2006.

The former exterminator was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from a suburban Houston district in 1984. He rose to power as a leader of the 1994 Republican Revolution, which saw the party take control of the House for the first time four decades. DeLay earned his nickname, "The Hammer," for his hard-charging style and way of convincing donors to give to the GOP.

Although DeLay had won his GOP primary in 2006, there were signs that he was in a tough fight for another term because of his legal woes.

Under Texas election law, corporations are barred from contributing directly or directly to candidates running for office. Prosecutors alleged that DeLay was engaged in a conspiracy to launder money as well as money laundering.

DeLay, 63, had maintained his innocence throughout the three-week trial. The jury began deliberating on Monday and took 19 hours to reach its verdict.

I'm honestly not shedding any tears. The mans a politician. The things he's saying about this are the exact same words we'd hear out of a Democrat in his shoes.

The only issue I have, is I recall it being mentioned that this was done before there was an actual law making this act illegal. But that's just what I heard a while back.

NJCardFan

11-25-2010, 12:09 PM

And yet Charlie Rangel gets a stern talking to and that's all.

Odysseus

11-25-2010, 12:29 PM

Clearly, we need to hold the terrorist trials in Texas,,,

Kay

11-25-2010, 12:36 PM

Clearly, we need to hold the terrorist trials in Texas,,,

At least we get to hold one here for the Ft. Hood shooter.
We'll see how that one goes as a trial run.

Jfor

11-25-2010, 04:30 PM

The only issue I have, is I recall it being mentioned that this was done before there was an actual law making this act illegal. But that's just what I heard a while back.

Glad I am not the only one that remembers that. I can't remember who the prosecutor was in the case, but he was going after Delay for something that wasn't even a crime and somehow was able to retroactively charge him for it. I am sure it will be overturned on appeals.

Constitutionally Speaking

11-25-2010, 06:15 PM

Glad I am not the only one that remembers that. I can't remember who the prosecutor was in the case, but he was going after Delay for something that wasn't even a crime and somehow was able to retroactively charge him for it. I am sure it will be overturned on appeals.

Not only that but the prosecutor had to convene multiple grand juries to get one that would finally indict him.

Jfor

11-25-2010, 07:31 PM

Not only that but the prosecutor had to convene multiple grand juries to get one that would finally indict him.

Yep! I totally remember that now. This prosecutor was out for blood and wouldn't stop! I don't understand how he could keep doing it. Gonna have to do some searching to see if I can find any of the old news articles about it.